For some Pinellas school choice programs, not too late to get in

From a district press release:Pinellas County Schools continues to accept late applications for seats available in several magnet and career academy programs. Beginning April 25, high school programs previously limited to students from within a geographic application area will be open to countywide applications, however transportation to students outside of their application area WILL NOT be provided. These programs are ISTEM at Countryside High, Honors Option Leading to IB Diploma Program at Largo High and the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Programs at Tarpon Springs, Clearwater and Dixie Hollins high schools.

Students entering ninth grade for the 2011-2012 also may submit late applications for high school magnet programs and career academies listed below. Some of these programs and career academies have earned the designation as a Center of Excellence. This designation allows students to earn high school credit, college credit, industry certification and become scholarship-eligible all at the same time. The programs accepting late applications include:

Academy for Environmental Technology & Marine Science at Lakewood High Academy of Architectural Design & Building Technologies at Dunedin High** Automotive Academy at Northeast High** Business/Economics/Technology Academy (BETA) at Gibbs High** Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Program at Dixie Hollins, Clearwater, and Tarpon Springs high schools Center for Computer Technologies at Countryside High** Center for Construction Technologies at St. Petersburg High** Center for Culinary Arts at Dixie Hollins High and Northeast High** Center for Design in Business at Largo High (Pre-Center of Excellence) Exploring Careers & Education in Leadership (ExCEL) at Largo High First Responders at Pinellas Park High Graphic Arts at Dixie Hollins High** Honors Option Leading to IB at Largo High Institute for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at Countryside High Leadership Conservatory for the Arts at Tarpon Springs High Pinellas County Center for the Arts (PCCA) at Gibbs High **This program is designated a Center of Excellence.

Middle school magnet programs accepting late applications are: Center for Advancement of the Sciences and Technology at Bay Point Middle; Center for the Arts at John Hopkins Middle; Center for Gifted Studies at Dunedin Highland, Morgan Fitzgerald, Thurgood Marshall; and Center for Journalism and Multimedia at John Hopkins Middle.

Elementary magnet programs accepting late applications include: Center for Journalism and Multimedia at Melrose Elementary; Center for Medical Science and Wellness at Lakewood Elementary; and Marine Science Center at Campbell Park Elementary. Students interested in either the Lakewood Elementary or Campbell Park Elementary programs must live in the southern portion of the county in order to apply for these programs.

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.